Some of the most commonly asked questions are answered here.
For answers to other questions not found here, send an e-mail to: nursing@nsc.nevada.edu
Generally, the regular BSN track accepts 32 new students each semester and the accelerated BSN track accepts 32 new students each fall. The RN to BSN track is open to all Registered Nurses who meet the admission criteria. RN's can apply at any time.
The School of Nursing at Nevada State College only offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
CSN offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. An associate degree in nursing prepares students with the knowledge and skills to care for individuals or groups in a structured setting and to manage and lead unlicensed personnel. Nevada State College offers a four-year Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This degree gives students the skills for comprehensive care of individuals and groups with complex and unpredictable needs. In addition, it prepares students with management processes and leadership skills to promote change and improve nursing care. Students will need a BSN if they want to earn a Masters degree in Nursing (e.g., nurse practitioner, nurse educator).
Yes, the Nursing program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Their web site is www.aacn.nche.edu/.
Clinical experiences are conducted at a variety of hospitals, clinic and health care agencies throughout the greater Las Vegas area.
Yes, students can complete the specific 18 credits in another discipline to receive a minor. For information about a specific minor, contact the advisor for that specific department (e.g., psychology).
The Part-Time track is for an individual who has obligations of a job and family life that interferes with their ability to attend the rigourous Full-Time academic schedule of the Regular Track.
The approximate cost for attending the NSC School of Nursing regular or accelerated BSN tracks for Nevada residents is $10,000. For an itemization of tuition and fees and the costs to attend the School of Nursing, click on the links below:
Some hospitals offer loans/scholarships to students once they are admitted into the program. Examples include College to Career (St. Rose) and Adopt a Nurse (Valley Health System). Students must sign a contract to work for a specified amount of time for the hospital upon graduation. For more information on this and other scholarships and financial aid programs, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
It is strongly recommended that students in the Regular Degree Track keep work to a minimum during the academic semester. The program is very demanding. It is important for students to obtain enough rest and sleep to be able to care for their patients and complete all of the course work. It is strongly recommended that accelerated track nursing students do not work outside of school due to the heavy demands of being on a fast-track which covers two years of course work in just 12 months.
A printable list of prerequisites for the Regular, Accelerated, and RN-BSN tracks can be found under Nursing Degree Programs.
Students must be in the last semester of their prerequisites to submit their nursing application, or be finishing them in the summer/winter term. To be eligible for admission, the applicant must have 20 or less credits remaining to be completed in the semester before admission. Students with 21 or more credits would have to wait to apply.
There are a number of prerequisite courses that students can take online, that may include (e.g., CH 203, PSY 101, PSY 201, ENG 102, NURS 122, NUTR 223, PSY 210). For other courses available online, refer to the class schedule. Once admitted to the School of Nursing, all classes for the Nursing regular track and part-time track are classroom only. Classes for the accelerated track may be a combination of online and classroom. All RN-BSN classes are online.
Yes. For the regular, part-time, and accelerated BSN tracks, the biological science courses, BIOL 223 (Anatomy and Physiology I), BIOL 224 (Anatomy and Physiology II) and BIOL 251 (Microbiology) must be completed within seven (7) years from the term of admission to the School of Nursing (e.g., if BIOL 251 was completed Fall 2001 and the applicant is applying for Fall 2009, there has been a time frame of eight years). The applicant can either repeat the course or complete a challenge process (PDF) to waive the policy.
There is no time limit on any prerequisite courses for the RN-BSN track.
No. However there are prerequisite nursing courses. For example, the required prerequisite nursing course for the regular track is NURS 122 - Medical Terminology (formerly NURS 111).
There are two required nursing courses for the accelerated track:
NURS 122- Medical Terminology (formerly NURS 111) and NURS 337 - Pathophysiology.
There are several electives that students may take prior to beginning their degree track:
NURS 100 - Exploring the Nursing Profession
NURS 310 - Cultural Issues in Health Care
NURS 430 - Aging and Health
To have your transcripts evaluated, the applicant needs to apply to Nevada State College as a pre-nursing major and send all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Once admitted, the applicant should make an appointment with the pre-nursing advisor or RN to BSN advisor.
Most prerequisites can be taken out-of-state. One exception is Nevada Constitution. If you have already taken a history or political science class you will need to take PSC 100 (Nevada Constitution). If you have not already taken a history or political science class, you will need to take CH 203 which includes Nevada Constitution. Both classes are available online.
Transferring credits from another country can be difficult. Students need to have their transcripts sent to an outside agency for interpretation and that agency will forward the transcript to Nevada State College. The agency is not responsible for assigning credit, only translation. There is a fee involved which varies per agency. Please realize that this process may take some time. Be sure to start as soon as possible. For more information and a list of recommended agencies, visit the Office of Admission.
No. There is no bridge program for LPNs at NSC. The Office of Admission at Nevada State College will determine on a course-by-course basis which general education courses will be accepted and transferred for each student. The nursing courses will not transfer because the scope of practice for the LPN and the professional RN are very different. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) has a LPN to RN emphasis. More information is available at their web site.
The deadline for the Fall semester entry is March 1 and the deadline for the Spring semester entry is August 1. However, applicants must first apply to Nevada State College as a pre-nursing major and send all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions at least six weeks prior to submitting an application to the School of Nursing. Only admitted students of Nevada State College may apply to the School of Nursing. RN to BSN students can be admitted at the beginning of any semester.
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is a pre-entry test used to evaluate the academic preparedness of students entering the School of Nursing and is taken the same semester in which you apply for the program. If you are applying for the Fall, yours TEAS test will be in January. If you are applying for the Spring, your TEAS test will be in July. The TEAS is not required for RN to BSN students.
Applicants will be notified of the admission decision by letter within one month after the application deadline.
The School of Nursing does not keep a waiting list. After admission decisions are made, a ranked alternate list is developed for that semester only. Students placed on the alternate list are notified by letter. If an admitted student decides not to accept the admission, the student at the top of the alternate list will be notified.
Students who are not accepted may re-apply for the next semester. Applicants who were not accepted are strongly advised to meet with their Academic Advisor well in advance of the next application due date to develop an academic plan and hopefully improve chances of admission for the next time.
